Information for students

GGE-UROP - Information for students

These pages provide important information on the GGE-UROP processes and requirements.

The GGE-UROP process begins with staff members proposing projects available to students throughout the year. These projects will be designed to act as an introduction to undergraduates into the research environment providing the opportunity to gain an insight into a range of research (and research related) skills. The projects will offer the chance for students to enhance, extend and grow their research interests.

The projects on offer will be advertised to middle-year students (students not in their first or last year of undergraduate study) via the GGE-UROP placement page just before the beginning of the Autumn semester each year. There will be a competitive application process for students. Interested students will be asked to submit a CV and cover letter, and in exceptional cases, attend an interview, to apply for a placement. Most projects will have a “module result average” threshold which will need to be met (e.g. 60% average module results from completed modules to date), supervisors can, at their discretion, retrospectively lower this if given sufficient reason (i.e. exceptional circumstances have lowered a student’s result average). Successful applicants will then meet with the supervisor of the project to form a mutual agreement on the best working practice for both parties toward the successful completion of the project. Support and guidance on employability and careers, including guidelines for writing a CV are provided by the Careers and Employability service. Feedback will be provided to all students who apply, whether successful or not.

You can sign up to the GGE-UROP maillist to stay up to date with all of the latest GGE-UROP information. If, having read the GGE-UROP section of the website, you have any questions about the scheme, please contact the GGE-UROP officer.

The Project

The GGE-UROP provides students with an opportunity to gain experience of research outside of their immediate studies. These projects are undertaken with a member of staff within the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment. Due to the rich and varied nature of research across GGE there will be significant procedural differences between individual projects. Each project will provide a genuine insight into the academic research environment, providing opportunities to develop transferable skills, discipline specific skills and employability. Different projects will require different approaches and time investment from both students and staff (projects in semester time should not be taking up more than a morning or afternoon per week) but are expected to involve at least 10 hours of commitment. Examples of projects types include: literature based, “desk-top” studies, lab experiments or field work. Projects may run across semesters and/or vacation periods, the exact details will be specified for each project with expected work hours agreed between student and staff.

Undertaking a GGE-UROP can:

Develop subject specific knowledge and awareness, including techniques and methodologies;

Introduce you into a research environment and culture away from assessment criteria based work;

Contribute to your personal and professional development;

enhance and/or introduce transferable skills and experiences;

place you within a research team, potentially working alongside staff, Masters, MGeo and PhD students;

gauge what academic careers, further higher educational study (Masters, PhD) or research careers are like – and if they may, or may not, be on a career path that is right for you;

place you with a supervisor who you might work with in the future;

lead to publication opportunities;

be recognised on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).

Before you start

All successful applicants will be required to attend an introductory session to the programme. “GGE-UROP; an introduction” will provide broad, but essential, training to prepare students before they undertake any work on their project. An introduction into the research environment outside of your courses curricula will be provided with students participating in discussion about their expectations and understanding of ‘research’. Guidance on the staff/student relationship will be outlined as will ideas and methods on tracking your personal and professional development.

During your project

Throughout the project your supervisor will be your main point of contact for the GGE-UROP. Support and guidance, if needed, can be sought from the GGE-UROP officer. You will be encouraged to document your progression (you can blog about your experience!) throughout.

After your project

All students who participate in a project through the GGE-UROP will present their research in the form of an ‘extended abstract’. These abstracts will be disseminated via the GGE-UROP webpages. Students who produce work of sufficient quality will be encouraged to publish their project results.